Expanded signalling capability for network element, user equipment and system

ABSTRACT

Several mobile station identifiers are allocated to one mobile station, one for each of a plurality of possible signalling channel structures, parameters, or both. When receiving the signalling channels, the mobile station searches for all identifiers allocated for it in the received signalling channels. When it finds one that matches, it may for instance check a mapping table (agreed at the connection setup between mobile station and the network by RRC signalling) to determine what this identifier means. The signalling channel structure, parameters, or both, used in the transmission may be implicitly or explicitly indicated by the identifier. The mobile station (User Equipment) should monitor the signalling channels in the normal way. Instead of looking for only one identifier, however, the mobile station should monitor several identifiers belonging to it.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 60/686,852 filed May 27, 2005 and 60/686,832 filed May27, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The field of the invention is mobile communications and, moreparticularly, to signalling used therein, for instance in the UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA)of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and beyond.

2. Discussion of Related Art

In further evolution of mobile communications, for example, in the WCDMA(Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) system, all services could beimplemented with HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access)/HSUPA (HighSpeed Uplink Packet Access) (including real time (RT) services whichuses a very short duration frame (transmission time interval or TTI)).Also, traditionally circuit-switched services are moving into thepacket-switched domain. Although disclosed in the context of the currentmobile communications environment, the present invention is not limitedthereto but should be broadly seen as applicable to future evolutionthereof as well.

Even though only one frequency need be used, a UMTS operator hasmultiple 5 MHz frequency blocks available for implementingpacket-switched services in the WCDMA system. It is foreseen thatdifferent numbers of DL and UL carriers may be in use simultaneously tomeet potentially asymmetric capacity needs.

Spectrum efficiency and flexible use of available spectrum will beelements of cost efficient future solutions. Efficient usage ofavailable radio resources in the DL direction requires fast and dynamicallocation of DL carriers to different users when multiple DL carriersare available in a system. The current WCDMA deployment plans do notprovide a signalling scheme/signal structure to enable fast allocationof HSDPA carriers from a pool of multiple DL carriers. WCDMA has not hadmulti-carrier solutions so far.

If new features are to be introduced to HSDPA (for example, theabove-mentioned multicarrier, MIMO (multiple input multiple output) oradditional new services such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP)), itmay be that new parameters will have to be signalled (e.g., the carrierfrequency in multicarrier system, stream identification or other streamspecific parameters in case of multi-stream MIMO) or it may be that notall parameters or not the whole range of those parameters as presentlyspecified may be needed (e.g., with VoIP larger transport block sizesare never used due to the low data rate). Then it could be necessary tochange the frame structure of the signalling channel (HS-SCCH) in orderto be able to signal the new parameters or to signal the existingparameters more reliably (e.g., if the transport block size (TBS) fieldwere to be shortened for VoIP, more channel coding would be possible).

The HS-SCCH is used to signal parameters of the high speed data sharedchannel (HS-DSCH). One of the major parameters is the user equipmentidentifier (UE ID) which indicates which user equipment should decodethe HS-DSCH. Currently only one UE ID is allocated per user equipment(according to the current specifications). The parameters and the framestructure of the HS-SCCH is fixed.

The existing structure of the HS-SCCH (High Speed Shared ControlChannel) is specified for HSDPA in TS 25.211 and TS 25.212 of the 3GPPWCDMA specification, where a number of bit fields are reserved forsignalling to the UE. See, for example, Section 4.6 of 3GPP TS 25.212 V6.4.0 (2005-03). However, because of the above-mentioned evolution, inlater releases of WCDMA there may arise a need to indicate differentinformation to the UE receiving data on HS-PDSCH (High Speed PhysicalDownlink Shared Channel), or the UE may need to receive multiple HS-DSCH(High Speed Downlink Shared Channel) sessions simultaneously from the BS(Base Station (called Node B in 3GPP)) MAC (Medium Access Control).There is currently no room in the HS-SCCH signalling structure asdefined in the 3GPP specifications to indicate the frequency carrier orsome other new L1/MAC parameters that may be needed or possible.

If the problem were merely that the user equipment only needs to receivea new set of parameters, then this could be informed to the userequipment by RRC signaling. Then the UE would be able to receiveparameters as it currently does but assuming a different framestructure. If, however, the UE needs to receive multiple services, thenthe UE may need to receive multiple HS-SCCH frame structures or formatsdepending on the service or some other factor. There is no mechanism totell the UE which HS-SCCH frame structure (i.e., which parameters aresignal, what is there value range and how they are channel encoded,etc.) is being used in a given transmission time interval (TTI).

Provisioning for more efficient use of DL (downlink) signallingresources could be achieved by providing some new, different HS-SCCHstructures for DL HSDPA signalling. For example, for some transmissionson HS-PDSCH not all the specified fields are needed, potentially newsignalling could be added, or a smaller number of bits would be enoughfor some of the currently existing HS-SCCH fields. Specifying anotherHS-SCCH structure in a later release of the 3GPP specifications ispossible, but this would have to be a different HS-SCCH with redesignedcoding, puncturing, error detection, etc. Just adding a new HS-SCCH tothe system also brings the problem of the UE knowing which HS-SCCHstructure it is to receive with. On the other hand, as suggested above,there may be multiple reasons for introducing new signalling structuresin WCDMA, such as VoIP services and so on.

In view of the fact that HSDPA will be widely deployed for packetswitched traffic in the near future and the need for enhancements ofHSDPA, along with enhancements for the signalling, such as some newL1/MAC parameters, there would naturally be a desire to avoid changes tothe high speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH). The present inventionproposes how these new parameters could be signalled without changingthe HS-SCCH structure or how the existing HS-SCCH signalling could beadapted to perform signalling using different signalling structure in abackwards compatible way, i.e., so as to be consistent with the existingHS-SCCH structure.

The problem has not been solved earlier. It should be noted again thatthis invention is not specifically confined to multicarrier WCDMA orVoIP.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method comprisesidentifying a plurality of user equipment identifiers for a single userequipment, and associating a signalling structure for each of saidplurality of user equipment identifiers from among a plurality ofdifferent signalling structures. The method can be executed in a networkelement or a user equipment or both. The identifiers can be negotiatedbetween devices on either side of a wireless interface. Further detailsof the method of the invention are disclosed below.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a devicecomprises an identification module, responsive to a request signal, forproviding a signal indicative of a plurality of user equipmentidentifiers for a single user equipment, and an association module,responsive to the signal indicative of the plurality of user equipmentidentifiers for associating a signalling structure for each of theplurality of user equipment identifiers from among a plurality ofdifferent signalling structures and for providing a signal indicative ofthe plurality of user equipment identifiers and their associatedsignalling structures. The device may be for use in a network element oruser equipment. Further details of the device according to the secondaspect of the invention are disclosed below.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a device comprisesmeans for identifying a plurality of user equipment identifiers for asingle user equipment, and means for associating a signalling structurefor each of said plurality of user equipment identifiers from among aplurality of different signalling structures. The device according tothe third aspect of the present invention can be for use in a networkelement or in user equipment.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a computerprogram stored in a computer readable medium is able to carryout themethod according to the first aspect of the present invention.Alternatively, the computer program is for identifying a plurality ofuser equipment identifiers for a single user equipment, and forassociating a signalling structure for each of said plurality of userequipment identifiers from among a plurality of different signallingstructures.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a system comprisestwo devices according to the second aspect or third aspect or bothsecond and third aspects of the present invention in any combination onboth sides of a radio interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A shows a device for carrying out the present invention with aserver of modules in combination.

FIG. 1B shows two devices, each similar to the device of FIG. 1A,operating together as a system comprising a base station and userequipment.

FIG. 2 presents the concept of how the UE ID located in HS-SCCH part #1may be used to indicate the HS-SCCH structure.

FIG. 3A presents an implementation A for fast carrier assignment, wherethe DL carrier band (A(Core), B, C, or D) is explicitly indicated asembedded information that HS-SCCH carries; it presents the UE IDindicating the frequency carrier/band.

FIG. 3B shows another explicit signalling method with an explicit DLcarrier number parameter added to HS-SCCH.

FIG. 4 presents an implementation B for fast carrier assignment, wherethe DL carrier is implicitly mapped from the channelization code used onthe HS-SCCH assigned for the UE.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a series of steps which may be carried outin a network element according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a series of steps which may be carried outin user equipment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a signal processor for carrying out the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the 3GPP WCDMA system the base station (Node B) is a network elementthat sends signalling (control) information on four different high speedshared control channels (HS-SCCHs) although more than four are possible.The HS-SCCHs are sent in parallel during the same recurring timeinterval, e.g., during a two millisecond transmission time interval(TTI). The HS-SCCHs are sent over the whole cell or parts thereof formonitoring by various user equipment (UEs) which may be present in thecell. During this time that UEs are sending back periodic (for instanceevery ten milliseconds) channel quality indicator (CQI) signals to theNode B. The control information for a given UE, according to the priorart, is contained in one and only one of the four parallel HS-SCCHs. Ifa UE is able to check all four HS-SCCHs, it tries to find the HS-SCCHintended for it by checking its UE identifier in one of the fourpossible channels. When it detects the UE ID unique to itself in thefirst part of the HS-SCCH, it then reads the rest of the information inthe second part of the HS-SCCH in question in order to be able toproperly process information contained in digital samples extracted fromthe HS-PDSCH (High Speed Physical Downlink Shared Channel) which arrivesa short time later. The parameters needed to demodulate and decode(channelization code-wise) the physical channel are contained in thefirst part of each TTI, i.e., in the first third of the two millisecondtransmission time interval used for the HS-SCCH. The two millisecond TTIis broken down into three equal duration slots, the first part being oneslot in duration (two thirds of a millisecond) and the second part beingtwo slots in duration (four thirds of a millisecond) and containinginformation needed to further process the demodulated and decodedinformation. The HS-PDSCH frame begins after the first part of theHS-SCCH.

According to the present invention, more than one UE identifier can beallocated or assigned for one UE and each identifier indicates whichsignaling structure is being used in a given transmission time interval,or it indicates some new parameter value, or both.

If, according to one embodiment, more than one UE ID is allocated orassigned for one UE and the UE ID indicates which HS-SCCH framestructure is being used in the current TTI, it is in this way possibleto dynamically change between different structures. For instance, if wehave a need for different HS-SCCH structures such as a first structureoptimized for VoIP and another structure for normal traffic such as whathas already been specified for other services, then two UE IDs could beallocated or assigned according to the invention for the single UE, onefor VoIP and the other for everything else. When the Node B sends a VoIPpacket to the UE, it would use the UE ID allocated for VoIP usage andthe UE would know based on the UE ID that now (in the current TTI) theHS-SCCH structure is the new VoIP optimized structure. And for otherdata, the other UE ID and HS-SCCH frame structure would be used.

Or, according to another embodiment, we could have a multicarrier systemwhere only high data rates are allocated on some carriers (DO-DSCH) andlow data rates on the carrier on the core band. You could then have adifferent HS-SCCH frame structure to support the high data rate carriers(that HS-SCCH would also indicate the carrier/band) and the normalstructure to support the core band traffic. The UE would be allocated totwo UE IDs, one for normal operation and the other for multicarrieroperation. The UE ID would then indicate on the HS-SCCH which framestructure is used.

Or, according to a third embodiment, a MIMO system could be provided,where high data rates are allocated to a multi-stream MIMO operationalmode and low data rates to a normal single-stream SIMO (single inputmultiple output) operational mode. The user equipment would be allocatedto two or more UE IDs, one for the normal SIMO operational mode and theothers for the multi-stream MIMO operational mode.

The HS-SCCH structure is currently specified in 3GPP TS 25.212, V. 6.4.0(2005-03) and it currently carries the following parameters (see section4.6 of TS 24.212): the modulation scheme (1 bit) and the channelizationcode set (7 bits) assigned for the user, as well as the transport blocksize (6 bits), the HARQ process ID (3 bits), redundancy andconstellation version (3 bits), new data indicator (NDI) (1 bit) and UEspecific CRC (16 bits). The UE specific CRC is calculated as a normal 16bit CRC which is XORed with the 16 bit UE ID (H-RNTI (HS-DSCH radionetwork temporary identifier)). In addition to its use in conjunctionwith the UE specific CRC, the UE ID is also used for UE specific maskingof the first slot of the HS-SCCH (as suggested above, the first slot ofthe HS-SCCH TTI includes the modulation scheme and channelization codeset parameters). For details of UE specific masking and UE specific CRC,see, especially the FIG. 19 coding chain of the 3GPP specificationTS25.212. Based on the UE specific masking of the first slot of theHS-SCCH transmission, the UE is quickly able to identify whether thetransmission is for it or not. If the masking matches, the UE startsdemodulating the indicated HS-PDSCH code channels and at the same timereads the rest of the HS-SCCH (Part 2 with the further processing info).The UE specific CRC at the end of the HS-SCCH confirms that thetransmission was intended for this UE as well as that the parameters arecorrectly received (without errors).

Further according to the present invention, the multiple UE IDsassociated with a given UE can indicate different HS-SCCH structures,i.e., different from that just described above in the previousparagraph.

Thus, according further to this invention, as shown for example in FIG.2 hereof, it is proposed not only to allocate multiple UE IDs for oneUE, e.g., one for each possible HS-SCCH structure that the UE is able toreceive, but also to make it so a UE ID can be allocated so as to beassociated with any one of multiple possible signalling structures. Themapping between the UE ID and the respective HS-SCCH structure can forinstance be agreed to between UE and network via RRC signalling at theconnection setup phase. The UE ID would be used on HS-SCCH in the sameway as it is used today: both for UE specific masking of the first slotas well as for the UE specific CRC except that a given UE may have thepossibility of having more than one UE ID assigned to it.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a device 10 is shown comprising a receivermodule 12, a signal processor 14, and a transmitter module 16. Thedevice 10 may for instance be a network element such as base station orNode B or may be user equipment or a mobile station. In such cases, towhich the invention is not limited, the receiver module and transmittermodule will communicate over a radio interface via one or more antennaswith another device. If the device 10 is a base station or Node Bnetwork element, it will communicate over the radio interface with amobile station, known as “user equipment” in 3 GPP specifications. Ifthe device 10 is user equipment then it will communicate over the radiointerface with the network element in the form of a Node B or basestation. In either event, the concept is the same and will be describedgenerally so that the device 10 shown in FIG. 1A can be understood asbeing in whole or in part at either the core network side, for instanceat an access point, or at the user equipment side of the radiointerface. It should also be understood that although a series ofmodules are shown connected in series in a certain order, the orderingis flexible in that it can be rearranged so that the functionsidentified for each module can be performed before or after the sequenceshown for any given module or any combination of modules. It should alsobe understood that modules may be added or detracted without departingfrom the invention. In other words, it should also be understood thatmore of less modules than shown can be used in combination with thoseshown to carry out the invention. In other words, in certainembodiments, certain modules may be omitted or certain others may beadded. Moreover, the illustrated functions can be carried out indifferent entities and need not be carried out in the same “device.”Therefore, the word “device” should be understood in that sense. Itmight for instance be possible even for part of a given function to becarried out in one device while another part of the same function iscarried out in another device. When partitioning a function in this way,it is even possible to perform part of the function on one side of thewireless interface and another part on the other side. The descriptionof the signal processing carried out in the device 10 of FIG. 1A shouldtherefore be understood as being a flexible signal processing device ormethod with the capability of performing the illustrated functions inany order or location according to the circumstances needed or accordingto the designer's choice. The device 10 of FIG. 1A will first bedescribed as a network element or part thereof, e.g., a base station orNode B of the 3GPP network. The device of FIG. 1A will then bedescribed, in connection with the system of FIG. 1B, as fulfilling therole of user equipment or part thereof in the same 3GPP network.

Assuming for the moment the device 10 of FIG. 1A is a network elementsuch as a Node B, the receiver module 12 may receive a request signal ona line 18 from the user equipment over the radio interface requestingmultiple services from the network. The receiver module processes thisrequest signal and provides a process request signal on a line 20 to thesignal processor 14 in the network element. This function as well asothers to be described could be performed anywhere in the core network.According to an embodiment of the invention, an identification module 22is responsive to the processed request signal on the line 20 foridentifying a plurality of user equipment identifiers for the singleuser equipment that has made the request for multiple services. Forinstance, the identification module 22 could assign a separate userequipment identifier for each service requested by the single userequipment. The result of the identification process carried out by theidentification module 22 is signalled by a signal on a line 24 to anassociation module 26 which, according to the present invention,associates a signalling structure, or parameters, or both, for each ofthe plurality of user equipment identifiers identified by the signal onthe line 24. These signalling structures, or parameters, or both, areselected by the association module from among a plurality of differentsignalling structures, or parameters, or both, available to it. Theassociation module may assign structures, or parameters, or both thatare appropriate for the services requested by the user equipment. Theassociation module 26 then provides a signal on a line 28 indicative ofthe plurality of user equipment identifiers and their associatedsignalling structures, or parameters, or both, as selected by theassociation module and identified by the identification module. Althoughshown as two distinct modules 22, 26, it should be realized that one orboth of these modules may be viewed as a single module for allocating orassigning a user equipment identifier which indicates the HS-SCCHstructure, or parameters, or both, or which indicates the presence ofcertain parameters in the existing HS-SCCH structure.

A negotiation module 30 may be provided, responsive to the signal on theline 28 from the association module 26 for providing a signal on a line32 for transmission over the radio interface back to the user equipmentfor the purpose of negotiating the plurality of user equipmentidentifiers and their associated signalling structures, or parameters,or both, with the user equipment before taking them up into use. Thetransmitter module 16 is responsive to the signal on the line 32 fortransmitting the plurality of user equipment identifiers and theirassociated signalling structures, or parameters, or both, to the userequipment as proposed identifiers and signalling structures, orparameters, or both, for consideration by the user equipment. If theuser equipment agrees, it may signal its acceptance back to the device10 over the radio interface with a signal on the line 18 received by thereceiver module 12 where it is processed and forwarded as a signal on aline 34 back to the negotiation module 30. If the user equipment hasagreed with the proposed plurality of user equipment identifiers andassociated signalling structures, or parameters, or both, thenegotiation module 30 will be able to determine that fact from thesignal on the line 34 and it in turn will then be in a position toprovide a negotiated signal on a line 36 to a service module 38 whichwill carry out a process of delivering the requested services over theradio interface from the network to the user equipment via thetransmitter module 16 using the plurality of negotiated user equipmentidentifiers and associated structures, or parameters, or both, using thesignalling structure indicated by the previously negotiated signallingstructures, parameters, or both, for the corresponding differentservices requested by the user equipment. This is shown by a signal on aline 40 provided from the service module 38 to the transmitter module16. The transmitter is shown providing the services over the radiointerface by a signal on a line 41. If the signalling back from the userequipment during the negotiation process indicates on the line 34 thatthe user equipment cannot for some reason accept the proposed pluralityof user equipment identifiers and associated signalling structures, orparameters, or both, the negotiation module will provide a signal on aline 42 back to the identification module 22 signalling that fact andrequesting a repeat process which either varies the proposal or proposesit again. In this way, a back-and-forth negotiation can take placebetween the network element and the user equipment to decide upon theplurality of user equipment identifiers and the appropriate associatedsignalling structures, or parameters, or both, that can be agreed uponon both sides. Although shown as three distinct modules 22, 26, 30, itshould be realized that one or more of these modules may be viewed as asingle module for allocating or assigning a user equipment identifierwhich indicates the HS-SCCH structure or the presence of certainparameters in he existing HS-SCCH structure. It will be appreciated thatthe service module may include two distinct modules, one for providingthe signaling ( e.g., on a HS-SCCH) with associated UE identifiers,according to the invention, and another for providing the servicesthemselves (e.g. on a HS-PDSCH).

It will also be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment theservices provided by the service module and provided on the line 40 tothe transmitter module are actually delivered on the radio interface onthe signal line 41 by the transmitter module in conjunction with anantenna using a transport channel which is different from the signallingchannel (e.g., HS-SCCH) used for the identification (assignment of UEidentifier) and association (association of a structure, parameters, orboth, with a UE ID) processes and then the negotiation as justdescribed. In the context of the previously described environment ofHSDPA, the HS-PDSCH is sent after the HS-SCCH (signalling) frame hasalready begun so that it will arrive at the midpoint of the second partof the HS-SCCH TTI which is sent slightly in advance because it containsthe information needed by the receiver to demodulate and decode(channelization code-wise) the data carried by the transport channel. Inother words, for example, the HS-PDSCH should start arriving at thebeginning of the third (last) slot of the HS-SCCH. It bears mentioningthat the HS-PDSCH frame in this embodiment has a duration the same asthe HS-SCCH TTI, i.e., two milliseconds. Thus, although they overlappartially, the HS-SCCH TTI begins four thirds of a millisecond beforethe beginning of the HS-PDSCH TTI.

Although the device 10 of FIG. 1A has so far been described as taking onthe role of a network element, it has already been mentioned that itcould also take on the role of a user equipment and such a role will nowbe described in some detail. FIG. 1B shows the above-described networkelement embodiment on the left hand side labeled as device 10 a. Theabove described reference numerals used in FIG. 1A have been repeated onthe left hand side of FIG. 1B except using the suffix “a”. On the rightis shown a user equipment embodiment labeled on device 10 b. In thesystem embodiment of FIG. 1B, the user equipment 10 b may send theabove-mentioned request for multiple services to the network element 10a for instance by means of a negotiation module 30 b although it couldbe carried out by some other (not shown) module. In the event that thenegotiation module 30 b sends the request, the signal on the line 32 bwill carry the request to the transmitter module 16 b and transmit therequest on an uplink 17 a via an antenna 17 to the network element 10 ain the form of a Node B or base station. Receipt of such a request hasalready been described in connection with the network element 10 aembodiment in the description appearing immediately above in connectionwith FIG. 1A. Such a request, as already described, would be processedin the network element 10 a with a resultant negotiation processinvolving the user equipment 10 b. If the network element 10 a proposesa plurality of user equipment identifiers with associated signallingstructures, or parameters, or both, and signals same on a line 41 a on adownlink 17 b via an antenna 17 c to the user equipment, it will bereceived in the receiver module 12 b of the user equipment 10 bembodiment and provided on a line 34 b to the negotiation module 30 b.In the user equipment embodiment 10 b, the negotiation module 30 b mayconsider the proposed identifiers and associated signalling structures,or parameters, or both, sent by the network element and agree to same.In that case, the negotiation module 30 b sends a signal on the line 32b to the transmitter module 16 b where, in response thereto, anacceptance signal is sent back to the network element 10 a over theradio interface. If the negotiation module 30 b cannot accept theproposal, the UE 10 b could simply signal back a non-acceptance and letthe network make a new proposal as described previously. Or, it can forinstance provide a signal on the line 42 b to the identification module22 b of the user equipment 10 b and the user equipment can then proposeits own plurality of user equipment identifiers and provide anindication thereof on the signal line 24 b to the association module 26b where signalling structures, or parameters, or both, appropriate foreach identifier are associated therewith and signalled on the line 28 bback to the negotiation module 30 b which can then propose same on theline 32 b back to the network element via the transmitter module 16 b.

On the other hand, the user equipment in the device 10 b embodimentshown in FIG. 1B could instead itself initiate the methodology of thepresent invention without first having received a proposal from thenetwork element 10 a. In other words, the user equipment 10 b may signalto the identification module 22 b by means of some (not shown)application layer module that a service or that a number of services aredesired and the identification module will then identify one or acorresponding plurality of user equipment identifiers for use by theuser equipment 10 b and send an indication thereof on the signal line 24b to the association module 26 b where an association is made betweencorresponding signalling structures, or parameters, or both, and theplurality of user equipment identifiers, considering the servicesrequested. Once the plurality of user equipment identifiers andassociated signalling structures, or parameters, or both, are ready tobe proposed, an indication thereof is sent on the signal line 28 b tothe negotiation module 30 b which can then provide a signal on the line32 b to the transmitter module 16 b for transmission on a radio uplinkto the network element 10 a for consideration by the network. If thenetwork agrees, an acceptance signal can be sent on a radio downlink 17b which is received by the user equipment 10 b antenna 17 and thenprovided on the line 18 b to the receiver module 12 b where it isprocessed and provided on the line 34 b back to the negotiation module30 b of the user equipment 10 b. Once the plurality of user equipmentidentifiers and associated signalling structures, or parameters, orboth, are agreed upon by both the user equipment and the networkelement, the negotiation module 30 b can signal the successfullynegotiated plurality of user equipment identifiers and associatedsignalling structures, or parameters, or both, on the signal line 36 bto the service module 38 b which processes that information beforeparticipating with the network element in the delivery and consumptionof network services which may involve both the transmission ofinformation on the line 40 b on an uplink via the antenna 17 to thenetwork element as well as reception of services on a line 18 b from thedevice 10 a transmitted on a downlink 17 b from the network element 10 ato the user equipment 10 b. Before the service module sends a service inthe form of a data payload packet on the HS-PDSCH, it will send thecorresponding signaling on the HS-SCCH using the UE identifierpreviously assigned corresponding to the service. The receiver 12 breceives the HS-SCCH signaling and provides it to the identificationmodule 22 b where it is checked and recognized as belonging (having beenpreviously assigned) to the particular single UE 10 b. It then signalsthe particular UE ID to the association module 26 b where thecorresponding structure, or parameters, or both, are determined. Thisinformation can then be provided directly to the service module for usein interpreting the subsequently incoming service packet with thepayload data. The receiver module 12 b can then receive the servicepacket delivered on the downlink on the line 18 b and provide thedownloaded service packet on a line 43 directly to the service module 38b for interpretation and consumption i.e., at higher layers within theUE 10 b.

It bears mentioning that although the network element and user equipmentembodiments discussed above in connection with FIG. 1A and 1B are shownas hardware comprising various modules in combination, these modules mayalso be viewed as comprising means for carrying out the functionsidentified so that the identification module corresponds to means foridentifying a plurality of user equipment identifiers for a single userequipment, the association module corresponds to means for associating asignalling structure, or parameters, or both, for each of the pluralityof user equipment identifiers from among a plurality of differentsignalling structures, or parameters, or both, the negotiation modulecan be viewed as negotiation means for negotiating the identifiers andthe service module can be viewed as means for providing, consuming orparticipating in a service communicated over a radio interface. Suchservices may include real time services such a voice over IP, dataservices which are not as delay sensitive as the real time services, orthe like. It should also be understood that such means should also beunderstood as embracing the functions described below in connection withthe flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6 as carried out by coded instructionsexecuted by the signal processor of FIG. 7 or by an equivalent hardwarestructure such as an ASIC or DSP.

Although not limited thereto, an embodiment of this invention for use inan HSDPA environment requires that the first part of the HS-SCCH isunchanged from the current state of the art, i.e., the number of controlbits (=8) is the same as well as the channel coding, puncturing and UEspecific masking. The content of these eight control bits may be UE IDdependent. The second part can be changed, i.e., even the number ofcontrol bits and thus the channel coding, puncturing, etc. can bedifferent and is therefore future-proof as shown for example in FIG. 2.As described earlier, the Part 1 of HS-SCCH contains eight bits, 1 bitfor modulation scheme and 7 bits for channelization code set. These areconvolutional encoded and masked with a sequence derived from the UE id.For the VoIP or some other low bit rate service, the amount of bits tobe transmitted can be so low that typically only QPSK modulation is usedand only a few channelization codes (i.e., HS-PDSCHs) are needed, sayonly one or two. Then if only QPSK is used for this service or user, nomodulation scheme needs to be indicated on HS-SCCH. Similarly, if only amaximum of two channelization codes were needed, the channelization codeset could be indicated with 5 bits (4 bits to indicate the startingpoint of the codes and 1 bit to indicate the number of codes, i.e., 1 or2). Then three remaining bits of HS-SCCH part 1 could be used for otherpurposes (e.g. signaling other parameters). If the amount of possiblechannelization codes were smaller, e.g., only 8, then only 3 bits wouldbe needed to indicate the starting point of the codes. In this casetotally only 4 bits would be needed and then their performance could beimproved by simply repeating the bits twice before convolutionalencoding. Instead of repetition code, other more powerful block codescould be used to improve the performance of the signaling bits of thepart 1 without changing the masking and convolutional coding structure.The UE would know which parameters are signaled with the 8 bits of thePart 1 based on the UE id (that is used for masking of Part 1).Furthermore, after receiving the Part 1 and based on the detected UE id(that was used for masking the Part 1), UE knows how to interpret thePart 2 of HS-SCCH. Now it is possible to change the Part 2 completely:the number of signaling bits can be different as well as the meaning ofthose bits. Even the channel coding can be different from the one usedin the current specifications. For instance, in the VoIP case thetransport block size (TBS) is more limited and less than 6 bits could beallocated for it. Furthermore, the number of redundancy versions couldbe less, etc. With less signaling bit stronger channel coding can beapplied and thus less transmit power is needed. Alternatively, more orother signaling parameters can be sent.

Thus, as explained in more detail above, one example case where thisinvention could be very much needed is VoIP transmission on HS-DSCH.VoIP packets are typically rather small, implying that not all controlbits specified currently for HS-SCCH may be needed. One could specify amore optimized HS-SCCH structure for VoIP (e.g., with stronger channelcoding for the second part). Then a UE receiving both VoIP traffic andother data traffic would be configured with two UE IDs, one for VoIP andthe other for the other data traffic. When a VoIP packet is transmittedto the UE, then the VoIP specific UE ID and corresponding HS-SCCHstructure is used and when other data is transmitted to the UE, then thenormal HS-SCCH structure with the other UE ID would be used.

FIG. 2 tries to show that depending on the UE ID based mask used forHS-SCCH Part 1 indicates which structure (A, B or C) is used for HS-SCCHPart 2. For instance, A could be the currently specified structure(including the specified parameters and their value ranges andinterpretation as well as the channel coding), B could be a newstructure specified, e.g., for VoIP (as explained above), C could be anew structure specified, e.g., for multicarrier transmission. Then threedifferent UE IDs would be allocated for a single UE if that UE issupposed to receive normal (current spec) HS-SCCH transmission, VoIPtransmissions and multicarrier transmissions. If some UE only receivesnormal transmissions, then only one UE ID would be allocated for it.

Another embodiment of the present invention involves using the sameframe structure as already defined in the specifications for the HS-SCCH(same parameters with the same value ranges and same channel coding) butto use the UE ID to indicate some new parameter value, e.g., frequencycarrier for multicarrier system or stream ID for multistream MIMO oradditional HARQ process IDs. The frequency carrier or stream ID examplesare new parameters while the additional HARQ process IDs example is anextension of the value range of an existing parameter. For instance, ifwe have a multicarrier system with four carriers, then each multicarrierUE would be allocated for UE IDs. Then, depending on which carrier/bandis used to send data for this UE, the corresponding UE ID is being used.This can for instance be done explicitly or implicitly.

Thus, this embodiment of the invention uses the same frame structure forthe HS-SCCH as presently specified with the same parameters and with thesame value ranges and the same channel coding. However, the different UEIDs are used to indicate some new parameter values.

A) Explicit Method (see FIG. 3A):

FIG. 3A presents an implementation A for fast carrier assignment, wherethe DL carrier band (A(Core), B, C, or D) is explicitly indicated asembedded information that HS-SCCH carries; it presents the UE IDindicating the frequency carrier/band.

In FIG. 3A, UE ID number 1 is used for explicitly indicating band D, UEID number 2 for explicitly indicating band C, etc. In this way, there isno need to change the HS-SCCH frame structure to be able to send somenew parameter or to extend the value range of some parameter while atthe same time having the ability to allocate more than one UE ID for oneUE so that it is possible to dynamically change between differentparameters used for different transmission time intervals (TTIs).

Thus, the DL HS-SCCH carries information embedded in it explicitlyindicating the frequency band (for instance A (Core), B, C, or D) wherethe UE will receive the high speed physical downlink shared channel(HS-PDSCH). After the UE deciphers the embedded information it can startreceiving signal on a DL carrier different from the core carrier. Insuch a case, a UE ID could indicate that HS-SCCH uses ‘multicarrier’structure. This could for instance mean that the Part 1 carriesfrequency carrier info instead of modulation and channelization codeinfo. This would enable the possibility that the UE could startbuffering the data at the indicated frequency band (carrier). The‘multicarrier’ structure could further mean that Part 2 is transmittedtogether with the data on the new carrier. If there are a maximum offour frequency carriers, then two bits are needed to indicate thecarrier frequency. Then only six bits were left for modulation schemeand channelization code set. This could be enough if the other datacarriers (DO-DSCH=data only downlink shared channel) were assumed to beallocated for high bit rates only (no need to indicate, e.g., singlecodes). The other possibility is that part of that information is sentin Part 2 together with other parameters. It is also possible that allthe HS-SCCH information is sent core band, as shown in FIG. 3. Then theUE has to be able to receive simultaneously on multiple bands: HS-SCCHon core band and the data channel (DO-DSCH) on the other band and theband to be used for the data transmission is determined by the UE idused on HS-SCCH.

Another explicit signaling method is depicted in the embodiment of FIG.3B. Here an explicit DL carrier parameter is added to HS-SCCH,preferably in the Part 1 which is sent before the data channel(DO-DSCH). This implies that the HS-SCCH frame structure or theparameter fields need to be changed. The changed HS-SCCH structure canbe told to the UE, e.g., by RRC signaling. Thus unlike the otherembodiments only one UE ID is needed in this case. UE would normallydetect and decode HS-SCCH channels and when it finds HS-SCCH with amatching UE ID mask, it reads the parameters from HS-SCCH. Now, the newparameter for DL carrier sent on HS-SCCH would tell the band to be usedfor data transmission/reception.

B) Implicit Method (see FIG. 4):

FIG. 4 presents an implementation B for fast carrier assignment, wherethe DL carrier is implicitly mapped from the channelization code used onthe HS-SCCH assigned for the UE.

DL HS-SCCH channelization code is implicitly matched into a DL carriernumber (this mapping has for instance been previously agreed to by theBS and UE via RRC signalling). When the UE detects information for it ona HS-SCCH with a given channelization code, it switches to the DLcarrier for receiving the HS-PDSCH as indicated by the implicitrelationship between the channelization code and DL carrier numberaccording to the previously agreed mapping. For instance, if UE decodesthe HS-SCCHs of FIG. 4 and notices that the UE id allocated for itmatches with the UE id mask used on channelisation code C, then the UEknows that it has data transmission on band C. Similarly, if data istransmitted on band D then the associated control is transmitted onHS-SCCH using channelisation code D.

As described above, according to this invention it is proposed toallocate multiple UE IDs for one UE, one for each possible new L1parameter. Some examples follow.

UE ID to Indicate DL Carrier

This example has already been mentioned in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4but will now be further elaborated upon here, especially as theinvention pertains to the communication of multiple services at the sametime. According to this embodiment of the invention it is proposed toallocate multiple UE IDs for one UE, for example, one for each possiblefrequency carrier allocated for the UE. As previously mentioned, themapping between the UE ID and the carrier frequency can for instance beagreed upon between UE and network via RRC signalling at the connectionsetup phase. The UE ID continues to be used on the HS-SCCH in the sameway as it is used today: both for UE specific masking of the first partof the HS-SCCH TTI as well as for the UE specific CRC.

When the Node B scheduler allocates for a UE some HS-PDSCH code channelson a given frequency carrier, it sends the corresponding parameters onHS- SCCH using the UE ID which corresponds to this carrier, i.e., whichis associated with this carrier by the above mentioned mapping.

The UE receives the HS-SCCH channels as usual, searching for its UE ID.Now, according to this invention, the UE has to check several UE IDs andif it finds one (or several) UE ID(s) allocated for it, the UE thenknows to start receiving on the carrier(s) indicated by the received UEID(s) using the parameter values given on HS-SCCH. Thus a new way ofsearching for the UE is that instead of searching for only one UE ID, asin the prior art, it has to search for several UE IDs. Based on the UEspecific masking of the first part of the HS-SCCH TTI, the UE now knowsthe modulation scheme, channelization code set and also the DL carrier.

As pointed out already above, the same mechanism can be used to indicateseveral carriers at the same time. If the UE is capable of receivingdata on multiple carriers simultaneously, this same mechanism can beused to indicate those carriers: Node B will signal to this one UE usingseveral HS-SCCHs simultaneously, using corresponding different UE IDs oneach HS-SCCH (i.e., one HS-SCCH and one UE ID per carrier). The datatransmitted on different HS-PDSCH carriers may belong to one transportblock or to several transport blocks. If they belong to one transportblock, the transport block size should be the sum of the transport blocksizes signaled on the corresponding HS-SCCHs. If the data is transmittedin several transport blocks, then there should be one transport blockper carrier and each HS-SCCH carries information about one carrier only.

UE ID to Indicate HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) Process ID

If more than one transport block is transmitted to one UE during one TTI(either on separate carriers or on a separate data stream (e.g., MIMO)),separate HARQ processes need to be allocated to each of them. This isbecause, for each process, data blocks can become available at thereceiver out of sequence due to the propagation channel or path qualityand they need to be reordered by such means. Node B could signal to thisone UE using several HS-SCCHs simultaneously, using correspondingdifferent UE IDs on each HS-SCCH. Now the UE IDs on each HS-SCCHuniquely identify the correct HARQ process for the relevant transportblock. Effectively this would mean that the UE id identifies the datastream. The UE ID would tell the set of HARQ processes and HARQ processID the actual ID within the set. This effectively results in HARQprocesses 1A and 1B, 2A and 2B, etc., i.e., two HARQ process sets A andB and eight processes within each set. Alternatively, the eight HARQprocesses (as is possible in the prior art with a three bit HARQ processID) may not be enough. By allocating two UE IDs for one UE, the numberof HARQ processes can be doubled.

UE ID to Separate Control and Data

It would be useful to be able to distinguish data and control (e.g.,SRBs) already at the physical layer, i.e., at the earliest stage. Thiswould allow different routing of data and control immediately at thelowest layer, e.g., high data rate data could be routed directly to someoutput port without processing every PDU in the MAC layer processor. OrSRBs could easily be given higher priority at every processing stagewhen they could be distinguished from other data.

UE ID to indicate First Transmission and Retransmission

Another example could be to indicate with the UE ID whether thetransmission is the first transmission or a retransmission of atransport block. This is currently done partly with NDI (new dataindicator), but if UE misses the first transmission, it does not knowwhether the transmission is a first transmission or a retransmission(NDI tells whether to combine it with the previous or not). For someapplications this could be useful.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a series of steps which may becarried out by the signal processor 14 a in the network element 10 a ofFIG. 1B, similar to the process already described in connection withboth FIGS. 1A and 1B. After entering in a step 500, a step 502 isexecuted in which a request is received from the UE 10 b for a serviceor for plural services. The receiver module 12 a processes the requestin a step 504 and provides the processed request signal on the line 20 ato the identification module 22 a. The identification module carries outa step of allocating or assigning the user equipment an identifier forone of the services requested. In a step 508, the network element 10 adetermines if more services have been requested by the UE 10 b. If so,the identification module carries out an additional assignment of anidentifier for another service requested or even for the same service.More services can be determined in the step 508 and additional UEidentifiers assigned in the step 506 until no more services aredetermined as being requested. Once all of the services have hadassignments of identifiers made, a step 510 is executed to signal theresultant user equipment identifiers and services to the associationmodule 26 a. Of course, the process can be done one at a time instead ofall at once as described. Once the association module 26 a receives theuser identifiers assigned for each service requested, it associates toeach identifier a signalling structure, or parameters, or both,appropriate for the requested service. If multiple user equipmentidentifiers have been provided to the association module 26 a, it canmake such a determination in a step 514 and continue to associatesignalling structures, or parameters, or both, as appropriate, to eachuser equipment identifier. Once it is determined that there are no moreuser equipment identifiers that need to have signalling structures, orparameters, or both, associated therewith, a negotiation process beginsin a step 516 so that the user equipment can be made agreeable to thesignalling structures, or parameters, or both, and associated userequipment identifiers before the actual services are delivered onanother payload channel. This process can take place between peer RRClayer entities at the UE and the network sides. Once the negotiation iscompleted as determined in a step 518, the services may be provided forinstance as indicated in the step 520 using parameters carried in thesignalling structures associated with the user identifier that isassigned for a given service. A return is then made in a step 522.

FIG. 6 shows a series of steps that may be carried out in the userequipment 10 b of FIG. 1B, but as is also the case for FIG. 6, it isonly an example and the invention is not limited by the specific stepsshown or their specific order and can moreover be carried out in adistributed fashion by different modules or entities. After entering ina step 600, the decision is made in the user equipment 10 b that theuser equipment needs services as indicated in a step 602. This might becarried out in an application layer that is not illustrated in FIG. 1B.However, such an application layer process can signal to theidentification module 22 b of the need for services and theidentification module 22 b will then assign a user equipment identifierfor each such service (or even for a single service) that is needed asindicated in the step 604. The identification module 22 b will thenindicate to the association module 22 b by means of the signal on theline 24 b of the assigned user equipment identifiers. The associationmodule 26 b will then carry out a step 606 to associate each assigneduser equipment identifier to a signalling structure, or parameters, orboth, appropriate for the given needed service. The assigned useridentifiers with associated signalling structures, or parameters, orboth, are then communicated on the line 28 b to the negotiation module30 b which then sends a request from the user equipment over thewireless interface to the network for the needed services as indicatedin a step 608. As discussed previously in connection with FIG. 1B, thisrequest can be sent on the signal line 32 b via the transmitter module16 b and the antenna 17 over the wireless interface to the networkelement 10 a for negotiation. It should also be mentioned that the step604, 606 can be skipped if it is desired to have the network element dothe assignment of the user equipment identifiers and the association ofsignalling structures, or parameters, or both,. In any event, thepreviously described negotiation process can then be carried out asindicated in a step 610 in FIG. 6. Once it is determined in a step 612that the negotiation process is complete, a step 614 is executed toreceive the services provided by the network on physical channelsdelivered using parameters signaled by means of the signallingstructures, or parameters, or both, associated with the assigned userequipment identifiers. A return is then made in a step 616.

FIG. 7 shows a general purpose signal processor 700 which may be used tocarry out the steps shown in FIGS. 6 or 7. As such, it would take theplace of processor 14 a or 14 b, or both 14 a and 14 b. It may becomprised of components constituting a general purpose signal processorincluding a central processing unit 702, a random access memory 704, aread only memory 706, an input/output device 708, a clock 710, and othercomponents 712, all interconnected by data, address and control lines714. It will be appreciated that the steps of FIG. 5 or the steps ofFIG. 6 can be encoded using a computer programming language and storedfor execution in the read only memory 706 of the signal processor 700.The central processing unit 702 would then execute the codedinstructions, storing certain results of computation in the randomaccess memory 704 and interchanging data over the bus 714 with theinput/output device 708 which in turn communicates with the receivermodule 12 or the transmitter module 16 of FIG. 1A. In addition to thesignal processor shown in FIG. 7, it will be appreciated by any personof skill in the art that one or more of the modules 22, 26, 30, 38 ofFIG. 1A can be incorporated into an integrated circuit or set ofintegrated circuits which in combination are capable of carrying out theabove-described invention.

Referring to FIG. 1B and FIG. 5, the already described steps 502, 504,506, 508 and 510 shown in FIG. 5 can be viewed, when coded using acomputer programming language stored in the signal processor 700 of FIG.7 as means for carrying out the assignment function of theidentification module 22 a function of FIG. 1B. Similarly, the steps 512and 514 of FIG. 5 can also be encoded in a computer programming languageand stored in the signal processor ROM 706 of FIG. 7 and executed by thesignal processor 700 to carryout the function of the association module26 a of FIG. 1B. As such, the steps 512, 514 of FIG. 5 constitute meansfor associating a signalling structure, or parameters, or both, for eachof the plurality of user equipment identifiers from among the pluralityof different signalling structures, or parameters, or both,. Not shownin FIG. 5 is another step that may be carried out as well, i.e., a stepof signalling from the association module 26 a to the negotiation module30 a with the signal on the line 28 a. Such a function may also becarried out by the encoded instructions stored in the ROM 706 of thesignal processor 700 and be a part of the association module or meansfunction. Likewise, the negotiation module 30 a of FIG. 1B may becarried out by the signal processor 700 of FIG. 7 using encodedinstructions according to a signal processing language selected by thedesigner for carrying out the steps 516, 518 of FIG. 5 in a networkelement such as the network element 10 a of FIG. 1B. The step 520 ofFIG. 5 of course corresponds to the service module 38 a function shownin FIG. 1B when carried out in the signal processor 700 of FIG. 7according to the code stored in the ROM 706 and written according to theselected programming language.

Referring to the right hand side of FIG. 1B, and in particular to thesignal processor modules shown within the signal processor block 14 b,the functions of the modules 22 b, 26 b, 30 b, and 38 b may also beviewed as capable of being carried out by a signal processor such as thesignal processor 700 shown in FIG. 7 in a manner similar to that whichhas just been described above in connection with the left hand side ofFIG. 1B. Thus, the signal processor 700 of FIG. 7 can be viewed asincluding means for assigning the plurality of user equipmentidentifiers for a single user equipment corresponding to theidentification module function 22 b of FIG. 1B and carried out forexample according to the step 604 of FIG. 6 in the environment shown inFIGS. 1B & 6 where the UE 10 b decides in the step 602 that services areneeded. Similarly, the signal processor 700 can be viewed as includingmeans for associating a signalling structure for each of the pluralityof user equipment identifiers from among a plurality of differentsignalling structures such as illustrated in the step 606 of FIG. 6. Thefunctions of the service module 38 b of FIG. 1B can also be carried outby the signal processor 700 by means of a computer program stored in thesignal processor 700 for carrying out the step 614 shown in FIG. 6. Asfor the negotiation module 30 b of FIG. 1B, the functions shown by thesteps 608, 610, 612 of FIG. 6 can be encoded in a computer programminglanguage and stored in the ROM 706 of the signal processor 700 of FIG. 7for execution by the signal processor. As such, the signal processor 700may be viewed as including means for negotiating the identifiers withthe user equipment according to the steps shown in FIG. 6 and/or FIG.1B.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to abest mode embodiment thereof, it will be evident to those of skill inthe art that various other devices and methods can be provided to carryout the objectives of the present invention while still falling withinthe coverage of the appended claims. While there have been shown anddescribed and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention asapplied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood thatvarious omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and detailsof the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, itis expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/ormethod steps which perform substantially the same function insubstantially the same way to achieve the same results are within thescope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized thatstructures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described inconnection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may beincorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form orembodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention,therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claimsappended hereto. Furthermore, in the claims means-plus-function clausesare intended to cover the structures described herein as performing therecited function and not only structural equivalents, but alsoequivalent structures. Thus although a nail and a screw may not bestructural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface tosecure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface,in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may beequivalent structures.

1. Method, comprising: allocating a plurality of user equipmentidentifiers for a single user equipment, and associating a signallingstructure, parameters, or both, for each of said plurality of userequipment identifiers from among a plurality of different signallingstructures, parameters, or both.
 2. The method of claim 1, for executionin a network element, further comprising negotiating said identifierswith said single user equipment.
 3. The method of claim 1, for executionin said single user equipment, further comprising negotiating saididentifiers with a network element.
 4. The method of claim 1, forexecution in a system, further comprising negotiating said identifiersbetween said single user equipment and a network element.
 5. The methodof claim 1, for execution in a network element, further comprisingproviding a service from said network element to said single userequipment on a transport channel recoverable according to a signallingstructure associated with a corresponding one of said user equipmentidentifiers.
 6. The method of claim 2, for execution in said networkelement, further comprising providing a service from said networkelement to said single user equipment on a transport channel recoverableaccording to a signalling structure associated with a corresponding oneof said user equipment identifiers.
 7. The method of claim 1, forexecution in a network element, further comprising providing a pluralityof services from said network element to said single user equipment on acorresponding plurality of transport channels, each DOCKET: 944-3.3161transport channel recoverable according to a signalling structureassociated with a corresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.8. The method of claim 2, for execution in said network element, furthercomprising providing a plurality of services from said network elementto said single user equipment on a corresponding plurality of transportchannels, each transport channel recoverable according to a signallingstructure associated with a corresponding one of said user equipmentidentifiers.
 9. The method of claim 1, for execution in said single userequipment, further comprising receiving a service from a network elementon a transport channel provided by said network element and recoverableaccording to a signalling structure associated with a corresponding oneof said user equipment identifiers.
 10. The method of claim 3, forexecution in said single user equipment, further comprising receiving aservice from said network element on a transport channel provided bysaid network element and recoverable according to a signalling structureassociated with a corresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.11. The method of claim 1, for execution in said single user equipment,further comprising receiving a plurality of services from said networkelement on a corresponding plurality of transport channels, eachtransport channel recoverable according to a signalling structureassociated with a corresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.12. The method of claim 3, for execution in said single user equipment,further comprising receiving a plurality of services from said networkelement on a corresponding plurality of transport channels, eachtransport channel recoverable according to a signalling structureassociated with a corresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.13. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing a service fromsaid network element to said single user equipment on a transportchannel recoverable according to a signalling structure associated witha corresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.
 14. The methodof claim 4, further comprising providing a plurality of services fromsaid network element to said single user equipment on a correspondingplurality of transport channels, each transport channel recoverableaccording to a signalling structure associated with a corresponding oneof said user equipment identifiers.
 15. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising receiving a service from a network element on a transportchannel provided by said network element and recoverable according to asignalling structure associated with a corresponding one of said userequipment identifiers.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprisingreceiving a plurality of services from said network element on acorresponding plurality of transport channels, each transport channelrecoverable according to a signalling structure associated with acorresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.
 17. The method ofclaim 4, further comprising receiving a service from a network elementon a transport channel provided by said network element and recoverableaccording to a signalling structure associated with a corresponding oneof said user equipment identifiers.
 18. The method of claim 4, furthercomprising receiving a plurality of services from said network elementon a corresponding plurality of transport channels, each transportchannel recoverable according to a signalling structure associated witha corresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.
 19. The methodof claim 5, further comprising receiving a service from a networkelement on a transport channel provided by said network element andrecoverable according to a signalling structure of a signalling channelalso from said network element and associated with a corresponding oneof said user equipment identifiers.
 20. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising receiving a plurality of services from said network elementon a corresponding plurality of transport channels, each transportchannel recoverable according to a signalling structure of a signallingchannel also from said network element and associated with acorresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.
 21. The method ofclaim 1, for execution in a multi-carrier system in which saidassociating comprises associating an identifier with said single userequipment and a radio downlink carrier in said multi-carrier system insaid radio downlink.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein saidassociating is an explicit indication of said carrier on which thesingle user equipment should receive a payload channel.
 23. The methodof claim 21, wherein said associating is an implicit indication where achannelization code is used for encoding the signalling to indicate thecarrier on which the single user equipment should receive a payloadchannel.
 24. The method of claim 1, wherein an identifier among saidplurality of user equipment identifiers is for association with asignalling structure for indicating one or more physical layer relatedparameters.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or more physicallayer related parameters are one or more hybrid automatic repeat requestprocess identifiers.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or morephysical layer related parameters are indicative of whether a downlinkshared channel carries control information or data.
 27. The method ofclaim 24, wherein the one or more physical layer related parameters areindicative of whether a transmission of a downlink shared channel is afirst transmission or a retransmission.
 28. The method of claim 1,wherein said allocating comprises allocating said plurality of userequipment identifiers to said single user equipment to indicate somecorresponding physical layer parameters.
 29. The method of claim 1,wherein each identifier among said plurality of identifiers is used toindicate a corresponding carrier.
 30. The method of claim 1, wherein anidentifier among said plurality of identifiers is used to indicate ahybrid automatic repeat request process.
 31. The method of claim 1,wherein an identifier among said plurality of identifiers is used toindicate control information or data.
 32. The method of claim 1, whereinan identifier among said plurality of identifiers is used to indicatewhether a transmission is a first transmission or a retransmission. 33.The method of claim 1, wherein said associating a signalling structurefor each of said plurality of user equipment identifiers is implicit.34. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating a signallingstructure for each of said plurality of user equipment identifiers isexplicit.
 35. Device, comprising: allocation module, responsive to arequest signal, for providing a signal indicative of a plurality of userequipment identifiers for a single user equipment; and an associationmodule, responsive to said signal indicative of said plurality of userequipment identifiers for associating a signalling structure,parameters, or both, for each of said plurality of user equipmentidentifiers from among a plurality of different signalling structures,parameters, or both, and for providing a signal indicative of theplurality of user equipment identifiers and their associated signallingstructures, parameters, or both.
 36. The device of claim 35, for use ina network element, further comprising a negotiation module, responsiveto said signal indicative of the plurality of user equipment identifiersand their associated signalling structures, parameters, or both, fornegotiating said identifiers and their associated signalling structures,parameters, or both, with said single user equipment.
 37. The device ofclaim 35, for use in said single user equipment, further comprising anegotiation module, responsive to said signal indicative of theplurality of user equipment identifiers and their associated signallingstructures, parameters, or both, for negotiating said identifiers andtheir associated signalling structures, parameters, or both, with anetwork element and for providing a negotiated signal indicative ofnegotiated identifiers and associated signalling structures, parameters,or both.
 38. The device of claim 36, for use in said network element,further comprising a service module, responsive to said negotiatedsignal for providing a service from said network element to said singleuser equipment on a transport channel recoverable according to saidnegotiated identifiers and associated signalling structures, parameters,or both.
 39. The device of claim 36, for use in a network element,further comprising a service module, responsive to said negotiatedsignal for providing a plurality of services from said network elementto said single user equipment on a corresponding plurality of transportchannels, each transport channel recoverable according to a negotiatedsignalling structure, parameters, or both, associated with acorresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.
 40. The device ofclaim 37, for use in said single user equipment, further comprising aservice module, responsive to said negotiated signal, for use inreceiving a service from a network element on a transport channelrecoverable by said network element according to a signalling structure,parameters, or both, associated with a corresponding one of said userequipment identifiers.
 41. The device of claim 35, wherein an identifieramong said plurality of user equipment identifiers is for associationwith a signalling structure, parameters, or both, indicative of aphysical layer related parameter.
 42. The device of claim 41, whereinthe physical layer related parameter is a hybrid automatic repeatrequest process identifier.
 43. The device of claim 41, wherein thephysical layer related parameter is indicative of whether a downlinkshared channel carries control information or data.
 44. The device ofclaim 41, wherein the physical layer related parameter is indicative ofwhether a transmission of a downlink shared channel is a firsttransmission or a retransmission.
 45. The device of claim 35, whereinsaid identifying comprises allocating said plurality of user equipmentidentifiers to said single user equipment to indicate some correspondingphysical layer parameters.
 46. The device of claim 35, wherein anidentifier among said plurality of identifiers is used to indicate acarrier.
 47. The device of claim 35, wherein an identifier among saidplurality of identifiers is used to indicate a hybrid automatic repeatrequest process.
 48. The device of claim 35, wherein an identifier amongsaid plurality of identifiers is used to indicate control information ordata.
 49. The device of claim 35, wherein an identifier among saidplurality of identifiers is used to indicate whether a transmission is afirst transmission or a retransmission.
 50. The device of claim 35,wherein said associating a signalling structure for each of saidplurality of user equipment identifiers is implicit.
 51. The device ofclaim 35, wherein said associating a signalling structure for each ofsaid plurality of user equipment identifiers is explicit.
 52. Device,comprising: means for allocating a plurality of user equipmentidentifiers for a single user equipment, and means for associating asignalling structure, parameters, or both, for each of said plurality ofuser equipment identifiers from among a plurality of differentsignalling structures, parameters, or both.
 53. The device of claim 52,for use in a network element, further comprising means for negotiatingsaid identifiers with said single user equipment.
 54. The device ofclaim 52, for use in said single user equipment, further comprisingmeans for negotiating said identifiers with a network element.
 55. Thedevice of claim 52, for use in a system, further comprising means fornegotiating said identifiers between said single user equipment and anetwork element.
 56. The device of claim 52, for use in a networkelement, further comprising means for providing a service from saidnetwork element to said single user equipment on a transport channelrecoverable according to a signalling structure, parameters, or both,associated with a corresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.57. The device of claim 53, for use in said network element, furthercomprising means for providing a service from said network element tosaid single user equipment on a transport channel recoverable accordingto a signalling structure, parameters, or both, associated with acorresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.
 58. The device ofclaim 52, for use in a network element, further comprising means forproviding a plurality of services from said network element to saidsingle user equipment on a corresponding plurality of transportchannels, each transport channel recoverable according to a signallingstructure, parameters, or both, associated with a corresponding one ofsaid user equipment identifiers.
 59. The device of claim 53, for use insaid network element, further comprising means for providing a pluralityof services from said network element to said single user equipment on acorresponding plurality of transport channels, each transport channelrecoverable according to a signalling structure, parameters, or both,associated with a corresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.60. The device of claim 52, for use in said single user equipment,further comprising means for receiving a service from a network elementon a transport channel provided by said network element and recoverableaccording to a signalling structure, parameters, or both, associatedwith a corresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.
 61. Thedevice of claim 54, for use in said single user equipment, furthercomprising means for receiving a service from said network element on atransport channel provided by said network element and recoverableaccording to a signalling structure, parameters, or both, associatedwith a corresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.
 62. Thedevice of claim 52, for use in said single user equipment, furthercomprising means for receiving a plurality of services from said networkelement on a corresponding plurality of transport channels, eachtransport channel recoverable according to a signalling structure,parameters, or both, associated with a corresponding one of said userequipment identifiers.
 63. The device of claim 54, for use in saidsingle user equipment, further comprising means for receiving aplurality of services from said network element on a correspondingplurality of transport channels, each transport channel recoverableaccording to a signalling structure, parameters, or both, associatedwith a corresponding one of said user equipment identifiers.
 64. Thedevice of claim 52 for use in a multi-carrier code division multipleaccess system in which said associating comprises associating anidentifier of said single user equipment with a radio downlink carrierin said multi-carrier code division multiple access system.
 65. Thedevice of claim 52, wherein an identifier among said plurality of userequipment identifiers is for association with a signalling structure,parameters, or both, indicative of a physical layer related parameter.66. The device of claim 52, wherein an identifier among said pluralityof identifiers is used to indicate a carrier.
 67. The device of claim52, wherein an identifier among said plurality of identifiers is used toindicate a hybrid automatic repeat request process.
 68. The device ofclaim 52, wherein an identifier among said plurality of identifiers isused to indicate control information or data.
 69. The device of claim52, wherein an identifier among said plurality of identifiers is used toindicate whether a transmission is a first transmission or aretransmission.
 70. The device of claim 52, wherein said associating asignalling structure, parameters, or both, for each of said plurality ofuser equipment identifiers is implicit.
 71. The device of claim 52,wherein said associating a signalling structure, parameters, or both,for each of said plurality of user equipment identifiers is explicit.72. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium forallocating a plurality of user equipment identifiers for a single userequipment, and for associating a signalling structure, parameters, orboth, for each of said plurality of user equipment identifiers fromamong a plurality of different signalling structures, parameters, orboth.
 73. System, comprising: network element for allocating a pluralityof user equipment identifiers for a single user equipment and forassociating a signalling structure, parameters, or both, for each ofsaid plurality of user equipment identifiers from a plurality ofdifferent signalling structures, parameters, or both; and said userequipment for allocating said plurality of user equipment identifiersand for associating said signalling structure, parameters, or both, foreach of said plurality of user equipment identifiers from among saidplurality of different signalling structures, parameters, or both.